In a shocking act of violence just steps from the heart of American power, two West Virginia National Guard members were gunned down in a targeted ambush near the White House on the eve of Thanksgiving.
This brazen attack unfolded as the nation prepared for a holiday of gratitude, leaving two brave service members in critical condition and a suspect in custody.
The incident occurred on November 26, 2025, when the Guardsmen, part of a deployment of approximately 2,200 troops from multiple states in Washington, D.C., were patrolling near the White House.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the assailant emerged from around a corner, raised a firearm, and opened fire on the unsuspecting Guardsmen in what was clearly a deliberate strike.
The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. after the Afghanistan withdrawal under humanitarian parole, was quickly subdued by law enforcement and taken into custody.
Authorities are now probing this chilling event as a potential act of international terrorism, raising urgent questions about security protocols and vetting processes for those entering the country under such policies.
President Donald Trump, speaking from Mar-a-Lago in Florida where he had traveled prior to the attack, condemned the shooting as a “savage attack” on the nation’s heroes.
“These two patriots were wearing the uniform of our country, patrolling the streets of our capital,” Trump declared, highlighting their selfless duty to protect against all threats, foreign and domestic.
His words carry a weight of righteous anger, and rightly so—when those who defend our freedoms are targeted, it’s an assault on every American value we hold dear.
Following the shooting, the White House was placed under immediate lockdown, a stark reminder of the vulnerability even in our most guarded spaces.
Trump has ordered the Department of Homeland Security to deploy an additional 500 troops to D.C., a move echoed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who insisted that such violence will not weaken the city’s commitment to safety.
Hegseth’s point about the historic drop in crime rings true, but this incident is a gut punch—proof that evil doesn’t take a holiday, even as we strive for a safer capital.
Vice President JD Vance, speaking from Fort Campbell during the incident, called on all people of faith to pray for the wounded Guardsmen, describing them as the “sword and shield” of America.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, after initially misreporting the Guardsmen’s condition, corrected the record to confirm they remain in critical condition, urging prayers for their families and the Guard community.
As the nation holds its breath for these brave souls, let’s remember that while progressive policies may falter in their execution, our resolve to honor and protect those who serve must never waver.
